Thursday, 7 March 2013

Questions need to be asked as 280 jobs go in Rathdrum-Brady

Reacting to news of 280 job losses in Rathdrum Sinn Féin CouncillorJohn Brady has asked where exactly is the governments job retentionplan.

Cllr Brady stated “This will be a severe blow to the workers and thecommunity around the MSD site in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow. By the IDA’sown job multiplier over 100 other local jobs will be affected.Yesterday we had a succession of government ministers claiming thattheir plan was working and the jobs crisis was turning the corner.That is not the experience of these workers or the growing number oflong-term employed or emigrants."

“Six months ago the Taoiseach, speaking at the MSD sister site inBallydine, Tipperary highlighted the signs that the economy wasturning when 70 jobs had been created there. Six months later and thesame company are shredding 280 jobs does the same logic ring true?It’s important that the needs of the workers are met. It has beenreported that some of these jobs have been lost to Singapore. If thisis the case the government must act to access, as a matter of urgency,the European Globalisation Fund to assist these workers back intoemployment." continued Brady

He went onto say "A number of questions do need to be asked however,where is the governments job retention plan? 280 workers are going tobe out of a job, we need to know that everything has been done thatcan be done by the government and the Minister to ensure these jobsare retained. Also questions must be asked about support this companyreceived from state agencies and the value of that support in terms ofjobs creation, retention and displacement."

Cllr Brady concluded "Its important that we remember that there arereal people, families and communities behind the statistics. These joblosses would rip the heart out of any community, but they will be felthardest in a rural community such as Rathdrum. Everything must be doneto either retain or have a new buyer brought in and the governmentneeds to take a lead role in that." Ends